Trainer of the Month: Josh

With 7 total years and over a million miles under his belt with Knight, Josh embodies the essence of a driver trainer.

Long before his time with our team, he pivoted towards trucking after a 5-year stint in the US Army. This sudden career change proved to be difficult — forced to navigate the early days on his own — no mentor, no manual. Reflecting on this experience, he shared, “I wouldn’t want anybody else to have to go through that.” That’s why he became a trainer, committed to helping new drivers avoid the lack of direction he initially faced.

Josh’s approach to training is structured around what he calls the “Five Cs”: Compassion, Communication, Consistency, Congruence, and Confidence. He believes that trainers should communicate clearly, be patient, and build a steady, positive environment. “You can’t be out here losing your cool on these students… If you can’t be compassionate with where they are in their skill set and understand that, hey, at one point in your career, you were there too… you’re not helping anybody,” he shared.

Going beyond the basics, Josh provides his trainees with a book he created that includes everything from pre-trip inspection tips to logging hours. Additionally, he’s developed planning tools to simplify trip planning, ensuring his trainees feel prepared when they go solo.

But training doesn’t stop once his students graduate — he makes himself available for advice, even years after they’ve left his truck. “I’m here for you even if you leave Knight,” he said.

The role of a trainer brings financial benefits, including bonus matches and extra miles, but Josh emphasizes that passion and commitment should be the primary motivators. For those who are interested in training, he suggests, “If you had a bad experience with your trainer or didn’t get any training, becoming a trainer is a great way to make sure others don’t go through the same.”

We’re proud to recognize Josh as Trainer of the Month for his dedication to fostering a new generation of safe, confident drivers.